It’s almost the end of 2020, so I’m taking a look back at the Black Library stories I’ve read this year and choosing a few highlights for each of the main settings – and this time it’s the turn of the Horus Heresy. Take a look at my 40k roundup if you haven’t already, but for this article I’ve picked out the three Heresy stories I’ve enjoyed reading the most during 2020. As I mentioned in the 40k article, these are just my own choices based on what I’ve read this year – I’ve limited myself to Heresy stories (both the main range and the Siege of Terra) that I’ve read in 2020, and which were published this year too.
Which leads me on to a confession. For various reasons – including the fact that 2020 was a little bit of a slow year in terms of quantity of Heresy stories, and that I largely can’t afford to buy Limited Edition releases – I’ve only actually read two Horus Heresy novels this year! You’ve probably noticed that the header image I’ve put together for this article includes two novels and a short story – well now you know why. To be honest though, I really loved that short story, so I’m actually very happy to include it in this list. I’m sure I’ll read the other 2020 Heresy novels at some point, but these three are genuinely my favourites of the year – and all three were excellent!
I’ll include a quick commentary on each of the three stories I’ve chosen, with links out to my reviews and/or interviews where appropriate. Where I included some ‘honourable mentions’ in my 40k article, for this one I thought it would be more interesting to chat to a hardcore Heresy fan to get their favourites too – so I got in touch with Greg Dann, host of the Imperial Truth podcast, who graciously agreed to write up a few thoughts about his top 3 of 2020. Now I know Greg has DEFINITELY read more than two Heresy novels this year!
Without further ado then, let’s get straight to it.
Saturnine by Dan Abnett
The hardest thing when talking about Saturnine is reining in the hyperbole and enthusiasm, because this book is quite simply magnificent. As the fourth Siege of Terra novel it was always going to tackle some big events, but I genuinely can’t think of a better way of marking the halfway point of the Siege than this grand, sweeping, action-packed gut punch of a book. It’s a story that really hammers home the apocalyptic scale of the Siege while still providing some of the most powerful character-driven events of the story to date, and even throws in a handful of moments which shed unexpected light on some fundamental aspects of Heresy lore. Abnett is the absolute master of the multiple viewpoint war story, but this one might just be his best yet, packing in an incredible number of plot threads and character arcs into a single cohesive story that’s thrilling from start to finish. It also has probably my favourite Black Library action scene of all time – I won’t spoil anything for you, but it is SO good!
Check out my review of Saturnine, and also my interview with Dan Abnett about it
Sons of the Selenar by Graham McNeill
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the first Siege of Terra novella, so I really wasn’t prepared for the emotional impact that this had alongside all the expected action and excitement. I went back to Kryptos, Angel Exterminatus and The Seventh Serpent before tackling this one, to make sure I was fully up to speed on the adventures of Sharrowkin, Wayland and the Sisypheum, and if you have time then I would definitely recommend you do the same. It’s great to see how these characters fit in (however tangentially) with the events of the Siege, but more than that it’s rewarding simply to read the conclusion to their arc – bear in mind Kryptos dates back to 2012, so if you’ve been following these characters then it’s been an eight-year journey! Graham doesn’t pull any punches in terms of what he puts them through, but I think that’s what makes this work so well, and ensures that the novella feels like a satisfying story rather than just an afterthought. As it is, I would definitely say that this is a valuable addition to the series.
Check out my review of Sons of the Selenar, and also my interview with Graham McNeill about it
Child of Chaos by Chris Wraight
You might think I’m only including this because I don’t have a third Heresy novel to talk about, and I suppose that’s technically true…but regular readers will know how much I love a good short story, and this really is an excellent example of what the short story format can deliver. As Horus Heresy characters go, Erebus has got to be up there with the most-loathed of them all, but in the space of just a few thousand words Chris Wraight brings him to life in a way I’ve never really seen before. Written in first person from Erebus’ perspective, it makes a point of emphasising that this isn’t an attempt to justify what Erebus does in the Heresy, or to try and make readers sympathise with him. It’s a blatant, uncompromising, bluntly honest depiction of a character who has supreme confidence in his place in the universe, and for that alone it’s a story that I personally think every Horus Heresy fan should read. I’m not saying you’ll come out of it liking Erebus, but I do think you’ll see him in a slightly different light.
Check out my review of Child of Chaos
Greg’s top 3 Horus Heresy stories of 2020
Greg: Picking 3 books from the Heresy this year was difficult, mainly due to how few we had and a desire not to choose a short story for this rundown [not a compunction I had! – ToW]. Once I sat down to write this it became a little easier, though, and in the end I have chosen the following three.
Luther: First of the Fallen by Gav Thorpe
Greg: This is one of those stories where I am not too sure of how I feel about it. The story focuses on Luther, held prisoner and visited over the next ten thousand years as various Supreme Grand Masters seek to gather information on the Lion and the Fallen. Luther uses stories of his past to make his points, and let’s just say his captors are more intent on getting clear factual answers. It feels like a bit of a tragedy, that Luther has something to offer but all of his attempts fall on deaf ears with his captors unwilling to see him as anything but a traitor mastermind.
This book deals with a Luther who claims to seek repentance, and there is a definite attempt to show that his reasonings are much more nuanced than the loyalist Dark Angels are willing to accept. I am looking forward to listening back to this story as I think, or should I say hope, that there is more depth in each allegory that is unlocked through retelling.
ToW: check out my interview with Gav about First of the Fallen
Fury of Magnus by Graham McNeil
Greg: Magnus’ appearance in Saturnine was but a tease of what would come. Picking up from that story we start to explore Magnus’ true plans on Terra that will take him deep into the Imperial Palace. From action scenes on the wall through to some more regicide, we deal with Salamanders and Space Wolves all the way to Perpetuals and Malcador.
This is one of those books that throws down some big revelations, and also ties in some characters we have met in various books. I know that for some readers these kinds of meetings and lore drops will not be welcome, but to be honest I really think the Heresy needs them. We can’t have a story that doesn’t expand on the lore and keep it interesting – we need to know that things might be different than we expect! Nothing in the book goes as far as invalidating any of the story that we know of old, but it certainly throws up some interesting questions, and only adds to some of the greater myths that still lie out there to be discussed amongst readers.
ToW: check out my interview with Graham about Fury of Magnus
Saturnine – Dan Abnett
Greg: The best Black Library book I have ever read! It provides some great action set pieces – a number of which would work well as the climax to another book – and yet by the time we get to the finale the fighting still doesn’t feel stale, due to each style of warfare being represented very differently. It brings in a large number of players and yet never seems too crowded, or like any of them feel short-changed in their story. Yet possibly it’s greatest achievement is to handle the various pieces of sometimes contradictory, sometimes impossible lore, and deliver them in a way that not only works but in some cases expands upon what we think we know, adding to the weight of their import as we move through both the Siege and the rest of 40K.
I read Saturnine as soon as it came out, and I have since listened to the audiobook twice. Never have I consumed a novel repeatedly in anything like such a short period, and it didn’t disappoint any of those three occasions. In fact, I might revisit it once more before it has even been out for one year! Bearing in mind the huge amount of books in my ‘to read’ pile, this fact alone could stand as my recommendation for Saturnine.
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So there you go, those are my personal Horus Heresy highlights from 2020, and the same from Greg! What are yours? There might not have been all that many Horus Heresy stories released this year, but there’s still been plenty to enjoy. Whatever you enjoyed the most, drop me a line in the comments below or over on Twitter. If you haven’t already, check out my Best of BL 2020 – 40k article, and keep an eye out for an Age of Sigmar article soon.
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